Calendar of Japanese festivals (matsuri) April/May (every seven years, will be held again in 2010) This festival is held every seven years, in the Year of the Tiger and Year of the Monkey. This is an amazing but dangerous festival as giant fir trees (weighing over 10 tons) are pulled from the forest and hauled across freezing rivers using straw ropes to the town. The local men then ride the huge logs down the steep slopes. Over the years a number of people have died doing this, so only locals are allowed to participate in this part of the festival – though everyone is welcome to observe! 29 April – 3 May Uesugi Festival Yonezawa, Yamagata Prefecture 23 April – 5 May Hirosaki Cherry Blossom Festival Hirosaki, This festival celebrates the blooming of approximately 5,000 Cherry Blossom trees in the castle grounds. Traditional events are held during the day and the park is bright with magnificent illuminations in the evenings. Arita Ceramics Fair Arita, This is the biggest ceramic fair in 12 April – 11 May Kasama Tsutsuji Festival Kasama, An azalea festival that celebrates the blossoming of approximately 35,000 azalea trees and attracts over 3 million visitors every year.
Yotaka Festival Fukuno, An evening festival of colorful floats with decorative lanterns. Local men hang from the lanterns and start battles with other lanterns that come too close. 1-10 May Nozaka Mairi 1-5 May Fujiwara Festival Hiraizumi, A recreation of the arrival of Minamoto Yshitsune and his entourage when he arrived at Hiraizumi to gain protection from Fujiwara Hidehira. This festival features period clothing and dance. 2-4 May Tarui Hikiyama Festival Tarui, Children wear traditional dress and full make-up to perform kabuki plays on stages built in decorated festival floats. 3-5 May (and 27 April) Togyu Taikai A traditional bull-fighting event in which two bulls are pitted against each other in a magnificent test of strength. The animals are not wounded or killed in this festival. 3 May Shimonoseki Straits Festival This festival consists of a reenactment of a samurai sea battle between Miyamoto Musashi and Sasaki Kojiro and involves approximately 200 boats. 3 May This festival has an international flavor with various parades, dances, baton twirlers and decorated festival floats. 3 May Odawara Hojo Godai Festival Odawara, This festival consists of a Shinto ceremony, traditional music and a parade of warriors in full costume. 3-4 May Kamezaki Shiohi Festival Handa, 31 antique festival floats are paraded around town and then pulled through the shallows along the beach at low tide. 3-4 May Hakata Dontaku Hakata, This festival dates back almost 800 years and consists of various musical parades and events in the main streets. This is a popular festival in 3-5 May Giant Kite Festival Showa, Giant decorated kites are flown on the banks of the riverbed of the 3-5 May Teams fly giant decorated kites and compete to ground the kite of the other teams. There are also various traditional events including sacred dances, parades and drumming. 3-5 May Hiroshima City 3-5 May Kutani Chawan Festival Terai, Numerous stalls sell pottery in the grounds of 3-5 May Seihakusai Nanao, Three enormous festival floats built from wood, bamboo and rope are paraded through the main streets. 3-5 May Shio no Michi Festival Omachi, Local people wear traditional clothing and visit historical places on the route of the Shio no Michi ( 3-5 May Okinohata Suitengu Festival Yanagawa, Three days of music, dance and ceremonies are held on a floating stage, with various stalls and festivities on the river banks. 3-31 May Sea Bream Netting Festival Ancient-style fishing is demonstrated onboard tourist boats. 4-5 May Ageuma Shinji Tado Shrine, Kuwana, The rising horse ritual involves young horse riders in samurai dress riding horses up a steep 3m high cliff. This event is traditionally believed to predict the success of the coming year’s harvest. There is also a parade. 4-6 May Yabusame Festival Sengen Taisha Shrine, Fujinomiya, This festival demonstrates yabusame, a traditional form of Japanese horseback archery. 5 May Sagami Giant Kite Festival Sagami, This is an annual event during which a huge kite (14m long) is flown by a team of approximately 100 people on the banks of the 5 May Kotohira-gu Shugiku Kotohira, Priests wear Heian Period (794-1192) robes and play kemari, a traditional game, in the grounds of a famous shrine. 5 May Nihon Dowasai Kusu, This festival is held in the memory of Takehiko Kurushima, an author of children’s stories. Various events for children are held, including a parade and children’s sumo wrestling. The weekend closest to 15 May Kanda Festival Kanda Myojin Shrine, Tokyo Approximately 200 mikoshi, floats and dancers in wagons parade through the downtown area in honor of the deities of the Kanda Shrine, accompanies by Shinto priests on horseback. The major festival is held in odd-numbered years, however a minor festival is held in even-numbered years. 11 & 12 May, Takigi Noh Performance Torch-lit stages showcase outside performances of the traditional noh. 14-15 May Johana Hikiyama Festival Johana, Six intricately cared floats are paraded through the streets joined by iori yatai floats carrying musicians, who play folk music. 14-18 May Otabi Festival Komatsu, Kabuki is performed by children onboard festival floats that parade around the town led by children performing other traditional-style dances. 15 May Sanjo Festival Sanjo, This festival is a reenactment of the clan lord’s journeys to 15 May Aoi Festival Kamigamo Shrine, Kyoto The Aoi Festival is a solemn and formal parade that dates back over 1,000 years and involves approximately 500 people wearing Heian Period (794-1192) clothing. An ox-drawn cart travels from the 16-18 May Kurofune Festival Shimoda, This festival marks the arrival of kurofune (black ships) led by Commodore Matthew Perry, who arrived in 1854 to demand that Japanese ports be opened to American trade. There are many events including traditional dance and music, as well as international events. 16-21 May Sanja Festival Asakusa, Tokyo A parade of approximately 100 portable shrines make this one of the biggest mikoshi parades in 16-18 May A magnificent display of dance and music, culminating in a fireworks display over the harbor. 16-18 May Tosho-gu Grand Festival This is 17-18 May Aoba Festival
17-18 May Kawawatari Jinkosai Tagawa, Ten teams carry decorated mikoshi and participate in various races that culminate in a crossing of the 3rd Sunday in May Mifune Boat Festival Arashiyama Kyoto Thirty boats travel upstream on the Oi River carrying people wearing traditional dress of the Heian Period (794-1192). The first three boats carry people performing noh dramas, gagaku musicians and shrine maidens. Groups of poets wearing ancient ceremonial robes compose and recite verses of haiku (17 syllables). 19 May Uchiwa Maki Traditional dance, music and Buddhist ceremonies are held before the main event, which involves thousands of specially made paper fans being thrown into the crowd. The fans are kept as good luck charms for the coming year. 19-21 May Mikuni Festival Mikuni, This is one of the biggest festivals held in the region, with a parade of festival floats and giant effigies of famous samurai warriors. 24-25 May Aioi Peiron Festival Aioi, A harbor festival involving teams of oarsmen competing in longboat races. There are also street parades, traditional dancing and fireworks displays. 24-26 May Nanko Festival Minatogawa Jinja Shrine, This festival is a memorial service for the spirit of Masashige Kusunoki, the enshrined deity of Minatogawa Jinja. Many spectators visit for the recitation of Chinese-style poetry and the mochi distribution event. 25 May Bakemono Festival (Tenjin Festival) Tsuruoka, Townspeople wear traditional costumes and hats covering their faces and walk around downtown giving sake to spectators. People believe that participating for three consecutive years without being recognized will make your wishes come true. 28 May Soga no Kasayaki This festival showcases a variety of ceremonies and attractions, including sumo wrestlers throwing mochi and money, burning of old paper umbrellas, children’s parade, warrior’s parade and children’s sumo wrestling competition.
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